Leopard Racing enters the TCR arena with great ambitions as is proved by its choice both in terms of cars – two Volkswagen Golf prepared by WRT – and drivers: the reigning champion Stefano Comini and young Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay.

Team Principal Claudio Berro explained: "The TCR International Series enjoyed a lot of media attention in its first year, so after a positive season in the GT3 championship we chose TCR as our reference series for 2016. We are delighted to be able to field two great drivers and we will continue our technical partnership with WRT, which began in GT3. It’s a new challenge that I'm sure will turn out to be a successful one.”

After winning the 2015 TCR International Series, Comini looks forward to defending the title: "I have to thank Leopard Racing for giving me this wonderful opportunity and trusting my skill and experience with touring cars! As always I am here to win, with grit and passion. I am convinced that with WRT technical support we will be competitive from the very first race."

Vernay faces his first season in Touring Cars after proving competitive in single-seaters (titles in the 2005 French Formula Campus and the 2010 Indy Lights) and sportscars (LMP2 champion in the 2011 International Le Mans Series). “I’m very happy to continue with Leopard Racing and WRT and also to rejoin Volkswagen, with which I achieved a podium in the 2009 Macau F3 World Cup. Front-wheel drive cars are a new and difficult challenge for me, but I’m confident and I definitely will be aiming to fight for the title.”